Page 80 of The Lost Book of First Loves

They were heading toward the stairs that led to the rooftop dance floor when the door to the brewery opened, admitting three guys. Xan, his brother-in-law Jake and Jake’s brother Ty.

Xan’s face lit up with happiness. “Ali!” he exclaimed, then his features froze when he saw Clint’s hand on her arm.

She waved with her hand not holding her drink, her heart giving a funny little kick. She was so very glad to see him.

She didn’t have time for more than a quick hello as Clint ushered her up the stairs.

She hadn’t been up on the Bison’s rooftop venue yet, since it had been finished after she left to go back to school the previous year. Her few trips home since then had been focused on details surrounding her father’s death and she hadn’t exactly felt like going out.

She looked around with interest at the twenty or so rustic wood tables with metal accents, along with a small stage in the corner and a dance floor that could fit maybe thirty people.

During the day, she imagined the rooftop would offer expansive views of town and the nearby mountains. Now, with the stars overhead, string lights stretching from end to end and a band warming up on the stage, Ali found it enchanting. No wonder it had become so popular with the locals.

They found a table among the few that remained. By the time the band starting playing to raucous applause, every table on the rooftop deck was full—including one across the dance floor where Xander sat with Jake and Ty.

She had never heard the group before, but they were great, playing a mix of covers and originals with a country flair.

“Let’s dance,” Clint said after the band started their second song.

He didn’t give her a chance to argue. He simply grabbed her hand and pulled her out to the dance floor.

For the next hour, Ali hardly had time to catch her breath or even to sip at her drink. Every time she left the dance floor, Clint or one of his friends would grab her arm and drag her back out.

Xander, she couldn’t help but notice, wasn’t dancing. He was watching the band and talking with his friends. Every once in a while, she caught his attention on her, but he would quickly look away.

Finally, after Clint led her back to their table, where more drinks had been delivered, she managed to wave off Tank, who wanted her to go straight out to the dance floor with him again.

“I need to use the restroom,” she said. She didn’t really, but she imagined her lipstick could use some repair and at least she would have a chance to catch her breath.

She scooped up her purse from their table and headed down the stairs, as the rooftop deck apparently didn’t feature restrooms.

When she looked in the mirror, she was horrified to see she looked like a bedraggled mess. She managed to pull her hairback into a messy bun, patted a dampened paper towel on her neck and cheeks and reapplied her lipstick.

Feeling more like herself, she walked out of the restroom and immediately bumped into Xander, who was coming out of the men’s room.

He looked great, she thought. He hadn’t gone for Western clothes. He was wearing nice tan pants and a tailored light blue shirt, open at the neck.

“Hey,” he said with a smile. “You seem like you’re having fun.”

“I haven’t danced this much in a long time. I forgot how exhausting it is!”

“I guess we’re not teenagers anymore.”

They weren’t exactly ancient. She was only twenty-five and Xander was six months older. “True enough. I was surprised to see you tonight. Having a guys’ night?”

“Jake and Ty are good friends with a couple of guys in the band. The drummer and the bass guitarist. Apparently, they always try to catch the Canyon Drifters when they play anywhere close to the area. They invited me along.”

“That’s nice of them. It’s a great place, isn’t it? Is this your first time on the roof?”

“Yeah. What about you?”

She nodded. “Probably won’t be my last.”

“You didn’t mention you were coming when we talked this morning.”

They had exchanged a flurry of texts to make arrangements for their upcoming horseback ride into the mountains.

“It was kind of a last-minute thing. Clint stopped at the bookstore today and asked if I would like to come and listen to the band with him.”

---